Forced to Pretend to Be an A and Marry the Best Actress Omega - Chapter 9

“I can smell your pheromones.” Xu Mifei fought to restrain herself from acting too impulsively.

She had only intended to check if Jiang Lingyu had any injuries on her face, but after catching that scent, her fingers seemed to move beyond her control.

This deepened her frustration and gave her a stark, firsthand understanding of how maddeningly irresistible top-tier pheromones could be in this world.

Even she, a beta with an ordinarily dull sense of smell, had momentarily lost herself—let alone alphas, who would probably be falling over themselves to become Jiang Lingyu’s lapdogs.

“Is this what you meant by not forcing me afterward?” Jiang Lingyu’s eyes burned with irritation, the grip on her ankle making her deeply uncomfortable. Her gaze remained fixed on Xu Mifei’s hand.

At the last moment before touching the scent-blocking patch, Xu Mifei’s fingers froze.

“I don’t know why your pheromones make me feel…” Xu Mifei slowly withdrew her hand, clenching it into a fist, “Others don’t affect me—Yu Wei, Xie Xingqi just now—when I smell theirs, it’s like catching a whiff of ordinary perfume, even ones I dislike.”

Only Jiang Lingyu’s was different. Just a trace was enough to make every pore on her body open greedily, drinking in that intoxicating floral-fruity fragrance.

“You think I did this on purpose?” Jiang Lingyu pressed her lips together, her calf tensing unconsciously. Her voice was strained. “Xu Mifei, I could never mean that toward you.”

At this moment, Xu Mifei didn’t realize the implications of her words.

Between alphas and omegas, the faint pheromones they normally emitted served as personal signatures, much like perfumes, and only exerted dominance over others of their kind—mostly among alphas.

When pheromones were deliberately laced with sexual hormones by an alpha or omega, those who caught the scent would struggle to resist acting on impulse. This usually occurred during heats, susceptible periods, or in moments of flirtation and seduction.

For a beta to tell an omega they couldn’t control themselves after smelling their scent? The subtext was clear, Are you trying to seduce me?

Jiang Lingyu was still wearing the same gown from the evening’s engagement ceremony—an outfit chosen by the stylist. Since they had changed separately earlier, Xu Mifei hadn’t known what Jiang Lingyu wore beneath.

Now, the view was laid bare before her: the solemnity of the black dress clashing with the sheer purity of white stockings, weaving together a vision of raw desire that thickened the air.

Too dangerous. Xu Mifei sighed inwardly. She can’t wear this—and no one else can see it either—

When Xu Mifei gripped Jiang Lingyu’s ankle, the latter tried unsuccessfully to pull away before resorting to kicking. Xu Mifei remained unmoving, her dark eyes fixed on Jiang Lingyu.

Something perilous swirled in her gaze.

Those eyes wandered restlessly—from Jiang Lingyu’s face to her neck, chest, waist, thighs, then down to her feet, lingering on her toes.

Every hair on Jiang Lingyu’s body rose in response, as if Xu Mifei might pounce at any moment and toy with her.

Xu Mifei exhaled softly, and finally, her fingers moved.

She gently massaged Jiang Lingyu’s ankle, “If this helps you vent, you can keep kicking me. I’ll massage it for you.”

“…” Jiang Lingyu thought to herself that she would never fall for Xu Mifei’s tricks again.

This person was no longer the same as before.

She remained silent. Xu Mifei initially wanted to touch Jiang Lingyu’s cheek but reconsidered upon remembering her resistance. She studied Jiang Lingyu’s face carefully: “What happened to your face?”

Unable to avoid her gaze, Jiang Lingyu simply turned her head away: “None of your business.”

“Li Xiuni hit you.”

Jiang Lingyu’s pupils contracted slightly.

Li Xiuni was Jiang Lingyu’s manager—domineering and hot-tempered, willing to use any dirty trick for her own gain. At first, she had treated Jiang Lingyu well, but as Jiang Lingyu grew more independent, her true nature emerged.

A cash cow trying to break free and establish her own path? She would never tolerate such betrayal.

Now, with only one year left on Jiang Lingyu’s contract, Li Xiuni’s controlling behavior had intensified.

In a way, Jiang Lingyu embodied all the traits of a strong, beautiful yet tragic figure. Despite growing up in such a harsh environment, she hadn’t turned corrupt or developed the arrogance and baggage typical of a big-name star.

If she hadn’t been abused by the Xu family, she could have lived a good life. Instead, she became a vengeful madwoman.

Just thinking about this outcome was enough to quickly cool Xu Mifei’s temper.

She sighed, releasing Jiang Lingyu’s ankle and stepping back politely and restrained.

“If Li Xiuni lashed out at you because of our engagement, I’ll handle it.” The original host had dealings with Li Xiuni, and Xu Mifei had seen them in her memories.

She wasn’t the original host and naturally wouldn’t let Li Xiuni continue treating Jiang Lingyu this way.

“You have one year left on your contract, right? I’ll visit Li Xiuni tomorrow and arrange for the company to assign you a new manager.”

She also needed to talk to Xu Wanzhi.

Managers and artists were supposed to support each other. The fact that Li Xiuni dared to suppress Jiang Lingyu so openly meant she had Xu Wanzhi backing her.

Though Xu Wanzhi wasn’t a top-tier artist in the company, she was one of its actual shareholders. This company had been a customary gift from the Xu family when she presented at sixteen.

What no one knew was that the company was jointly held by Xu Mifei and Xu Wanzhi—Xu Mifei owned thirty percent, Xu Wanzhi forty. Because of that missing ten percent, the original host had thrown a tantrum, stormed off, and started her own entertainment company, only to find it was a shell.

Xu Mifei could only think: What a fool. Thirty percent wasn’t enough? Even that made you a capital bigwig!

“It’s useless.” Jiang Lingyu looked weary, unable to ignore Xu Mifei’s gentleness, even knowing her terrible track record. She had to admit, when Xu Mifei could communicate properly, she wasn’t so detestable.

“Useless or not, I’ll still try. For the next few days, we’ll have to live together since the news is already public.” Xu Mifei said, “There are plenty of rooms—pick one you like. If there’s nothing else, shall we go to bed?”

Jiang Lingyu straightened her legs and stood up, asking, “Xu Mifei, are you going on that show?”

“To be precise, I have some work to hand over with the production team.” Xu Mifei knew there was no place for her on that show. “Don’t worry, I won’t cause you any trouble.”

Jiang Lingyu pressed her lips together. “Go to sleep.”

Xu Mifei nodded. Before leaving, she placed a tube of ointment in front of Jiang Lingyu. “For your face.”

Jiang Lingyu watched Xu Mifei’s retreating figure until she reached the stairs. Just before entering, Xu Mifei turned back, lips curving in a silent “goodnight.”

Only then did Jiang Lingyu look down at the slippers on the floor. After a moment’s hesitation, she slipped her feet into them.

The long, plush lining felt soft against her skin, and the furrow between her brows gradually eased.

They really were quite comfortable.

–

Xu Mifei slept restlessly that night, her dreams fragmented and chaotic, filled with messy pheromones and Jiang Lingyu’s cutting words: “Are you a dog? Biting anyone you see.”

So cold.

The chill seeped into her bones, aching through her body and heart, as if that discarded porcelain shard had finally lodged itself in her spleen. In her haze, Xu Mifei wondered if she was dying.

She woke in the middle of the night from the pain.

Grabbing the pills from her bedside, she chewed them dry. The sharp, stinging ache from her palm and abdomen slowly ebbed like a receding tide. Lifting her hand, she saw the bandage had come loose at some point, revealing the torn flesh beneath.

This probably needs stitches, she thought, gingerly touching the wound. A sharp hiss escaped her lips, and she cursed Xu Wanzhi a few more times in her mind.

How could someone like that—bullying her sister and tormenting Jiang Lingyu—still end up in a passionate, life-and-death romance with a top-tier omega like Jiang Lingyu?

It was downright unfair.

Heading to the kitchen for water, Xu Mifei noticed one of the windows was left open, letting in a frigid draft that sent a shiver through her. She hurried to close it, her breath forming little clouds of white in the air.

So cold, she sighed inwardly. The house really needed some upgrades—maybe a smart robotic butler. Otherwise, even something as simple as closing a window in the middle of the night fell on her.

Since sleep was hopeless now, she pulled out her phone and looked up Priority of Love.

Priority of Love

A newlywed slow-life variety show co-produced by director Jin Chiyu and Orange TV, inviting newlywed and soon-to-wed couples from the entertainment industry to explore the positive impact of marriage and romance on daily life. The show features diverse formats and is broadcast live in full. Each season consists of five episodes, with Season 3 currently in production.

The description seemed standard enough. Xu Mifei scrolled further.

However.

Since its premiere, Priority of Love has been mired in controversy. Not a single couple has made it to the end together, earning it the nickname “Divorce Variety Show” and catapulting it to infamy.

We sincerely advise against testing your partner. But if you must, at least don’t choose Priority of Love.

Xu Mifei: “…”

For Season 3, the production moved to an island for filming. What was supposed to be a romantic getaway ended with two of the four couples splitting—one breaking up, the other in a messy feud—forcing them to drop out mid-season. The only remaining long-term guests were the middle-aged couple Lin Su and He Yanzhen, who had been together since Season 1.

With the experience from the previous two seasons, the production team seamlessly arranged for a replacement guest to continue filming—Jiang Lingyu, a decision Li Xiuni made on her own.

Xu Mifei’s heart skipped a beat. Who would go with her? In the original story, it was the original host who went, but this time, she had given up on participating in the show.

Xu Mifei rubbed her temples, lost in thought as she stared at her phone screen, the glow reflecting on her focused face.

When she returned to the second floor, she glanced at Jiang Lingyu’s room—the door was tightly shut, separated from hers by a study. Jiang Lingyu really was guarding against her.

By the time Xu Mifei woke up the next day, Jiang Lingyu was already long gone. She changed the dressing on her hand herself and decided to visit the hospital after going to the company to check if stitches were necessary.

The garage housed several luxury cars. Xu Mifei casually picked the most low-key one and sped all the way to Shengli Entertainment Media’s headquarters.

Even in a company teeming with celebrities, Xu Mifei’s arrival still drew lingering gazes from everyone.

“So beautiful… If I were Yuyu-jie, choosing Xu Mifei wouldn’t be a loss either. After all, she’s still an alpha from the Xu family.”

“So, what if they’re both alphas? Character still matters, okay? Can she even compared to Zhizhi? Jiang Lingyu was probably forced into choosing her.”

“Everyone says Xu Mifei stole her away—sounds like something she’d do.”

“Stop talking, she’s here. What’s she even here for?”

The young woman passing by the whispers suddenly removed her oversized sunglasses, revealing a pair of captivating peach-blossom eyes with clear, bright pupils that shimmered with light. Far from being irritated by the gossip, she leaned in slightly and flashed them a knowing, close-lipped smile.

“Thanks for the compliments.”

Even after Xu Mifei had walked away, the beta girl who had been closest to her still had flushed cheeks, pressing a hand to her racing heart as she exhaled. “I think I get why Yuyu-jie chose her now…”

A confident, beautiful villainess.

When Xu Mifei had approached, there hadn’t even been a trace of pheromones on her—she hadn’t used her alpha status to intimidate anyone, yet she had captivated them even more directly.

No wonder she was the kind of rake that omegas loved and hated in equal measure.

The door to Li Xiuni’s office wasn’t fully closed. Just as Xu Mifei was about to knock, she heard the sharp sound of a slap.

“After everything I’ve done for you, you still go behind my back to take private gigs? Xiao Chang, just because you starred in one drama, you think you can ignore me now?”

“N-no…” The voice was almost pleading. “Xiuni-jie, I just don’t want to go there.”

“Don’t think you’re special. Not going? It’s just a dinner—what’s the big deal? It’s not like I’m asking you to sleep with him!”

Yan Chang lowered her head in silence before finally snapping, as if giving up.

“I’d rather be like Jiang Lingyu and get engaged to an alpha than have to entertain and smile for strangers! Just because she married into the Xu family, she gets to strut around the company like she owns it!”

“Let me tell you the truth—this is exactly how she got to where she is. Even if she were here now, I’d make her go along with it,” Li Xiuni sneered. “Otherwise, why do you think she got engaged to that good-for-nothing trash? She’ll toss him aside after a few months of playing around. Do you really think her position as the top star would still be secure? Drink up. This is the flavor Boss Zheng likes.”

“No, I won’t go.” Yan Chang could no longer contain her anger and rushed out, only to collide with someone politely waiting at the door. The wine from the tall glass spilled all over Xu Mifei’s expensive coat.

Yan Chang looked up in horror and saw the very “good-for-nothing trash” Li Xiuni had just mentioned smiling gently at her. “Excuse me,” he said.

Yan Chang was terrified. “M-Ms. Xu…” She feared Xu Mifei might just kick her in a fit of anger.

Gentle, polite, and impeccably refined from head to toe—every strand of hair in place—Xu Mifei exuded an air of aristocratic elegance and icy detachment in her black coat and chunky Chelsea boots. Was this still the same Xu Mifei from before?

The playful mockery that once filled her eyes had been replaced with calm composure, making her even more striking—like a true leader now.

“Oh? If it isn’t little Ms. Xu. What brings you here?”

Xu Mifei politely said, “Sorry, may I borrow this?” and took the glass from Yan Chang’s hand. She strode to Li Xiuni’s desk and set the glass down in the center.

The spilled wine seeped into the printed documents. Smiling, Xu Mifei pulled out the small poster of Jiang Lingyu that had been underneath and met Li Xiuni’s gaze. Her words, however, were merciless: “Li Xiuni, you’re fired.”